RIO DE JANEIRO – Erick Silva appeared to get the win, and he certainly deserved the win. Instead, though, the victory went to opponent Carlo Prater in controversial fashion.

Silva blasted his fellow Brazilian welterweight with a knee that appeared to set up a TKO victory, but referee Mario Yamasaki ultimately ruled that Silva followed the blow with illegal blows to the back of the head.

The controversial bout was part of the UFC 142 main card and aired on pay-per-view following prelims on Facebook and FX. It took place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

Early in the fight, Silva landed a quick knee that buckled Prater. He followed with a quick barrage of punches and hammerfists, and the fight was waved off after just 29 seconds. Prater appeared to immediately complain of neck and/or shoulder pain as Silva celebrated his performance.

However, as fans awaited the official announcement of the TKO victory, it was clear something was going on. Moments later, Bruce Buffer announced that Silva was disqualified, which prompted a chorus of boos.

Replays, though, showed that of a dozen or so punches, only a couple may have landed illegally to the back of the head. Almost all of them hit the side of the head. A majority, in fact, didn’t even go past the ears.

“I have great respect for the referee, but I see that most of them hit the side of the head, not the back of the head,” a disappointed Silva said.

UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan interviewed Yamasaki after the bout, and the veteran ref maintained that some of the shots landed illegally. But he also conceded that he was forced to make a snap call and had to react quickly.

With the dubious win, Prater (30-10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) picks up his 30th career win but his first in the UFC. Silva (13-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) snaps a nine-fight win streak.

“I’m not a judge,” Prater said. “I didn’t stop the fight. All I know is that he hit me, and it sent a shock of pain through my body unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I don’t know if the shots were legal. I just know it was unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”

With the UFC acting as its own commission for the event, it wasn’t immediately clear what avenues Silva will have to appeal the defeat.

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